The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-01-21

signal you will give ME to steal up on
deck aud place myself neer you.
"You are the bravest girl IN the
world! You are fit to command q
ship!'' cmphatically affirmed.
| She smiled as she answered: "a truo
sailors compliment. MIR. Roylc." Then.
with o sudden sigh and a wonderful
change of expression, making her
beauty a sweet and graceful symbol Of
the ever-changing sea- she cried. look
ing at her father:
"May God protect rs and send rs
safely home! I dare not think too
much. l hope without thinking Oh.
Roylc, how shall you feel when we are
starting for dear Englande This time
will drive me mad to remember"
CHAPTER XIV.
Ishall never forget the deep anxiety
with which awaited the coming-on Of
the night, my feverish restless
ness, the cxultation with which con-
templated my scheme. the miserable
| anguish with which forebOded its
failure.
1t was like tossing a coin-the cry in
volving life or death!
If Stevens detected the stratagem,
my life was not worth a rush-light,
and the thoughts of Mary Robertson
falling a victim to the rage of the crew
was more than my mind could be got
to bear upon.
Stevens came on deck at four o'clock
in the afternoon. and, that Knight con-
verse with the boatswain without fear
of mourning the carpenters suspicion.
brought chart from the captain 8
cabin and spread it on the cuddy table,
right under the aftcr-skylight; and
while the boatswain and l hung over
it, pretending to be engaged in calcu-
lations, we completed our arrange
ments.
He was struck with the boldness of
Miss Robertson's idea, and said he
would as soon trust her to take part in
the plot as any stout-hearted man. He
grinned at the notion of her wearing
his clothes. and told me he'd make up
a bundle of his Sunday rig, and leave
it ont for me to put into her cabin.
She'll know how 10 shorten what 8
too lengthy" said he; land you'd bet
ter tell her to take long steps ven she
walks. for vimmen's legs travels twice
as quick as a mans, and that's how |
| always know vich SEX is hacting before
ME in the theayter; though, to be sure,
some o. them do dress right up to the
hammer, and would deceive their own
| mothers"
..Are the matches of for ard?"
"You leave that to me, Mr.. ROylo.
That'll be all right"
what weapon have you got?'
Only bar of iron the size of nv
leg" he answered, grimlv. II
should't like to drop it on my foot by
accident"
We brought our hurried conversation
to close by perceiving the carpenter
staring at us steadfastly through the
skylight; and, whispering that every
thing now depended upon the night
being dark, repaired with my chart
to the cabin occupied.
noticed one of the lockers standing
open trifle and remembering the bag
Of silver had found while searching
for clothing for Mr.. Robertson I
thrust my hand in to search for tit
was gone. $50, MIR. Stevens" thought
l. ''this is some of your doing. is it?
A thief as we'll as a murderer! You
grow accomplished" Well. if he had
the silver in his pocket when he qIitted
the ship. it would only drown him the
sooner, should he find himself over
board. There was comfort in that re-
Election, anyway; and l should have
been perfectly willing that the silver
had been gold. could the rogue's death
have been fastened by the transmuta-
ton.
There were in the cargo a number
of boxes of tin tacks about twenty
inches in length by twelve IN breadth,
and weighing pretty heavy. could
think of nothing else which would an
swcr the purpose of making a splash
in the water as we'll as one of these.
A little after six o'clock conveyed
one of these to my cabin and soon aft
err struggled it up in top-coat and
stepped with an easy air upon the
poop. Then, when no one was look
ing, put my coat and the box inside
it in the port quarter boat. as though
it were my coat only which had de-
posted there. ready to slip on should
occasion require it.
The boatswain observed my action
without appearing to notice it, and as
he passed me he said his clothes would
be ready for the lady by eight bells,
and that should find them in bum
die near the door. He could stop to
say no more, for believed the carpen-
ter had become suspicious by our hang
ing over the chart. and had spoken to
his chums among the men; it there
fore behooved the bOatswain and my
self not to be seen together any more
than we could possibly avoid. One
very dark night unless some change
took place.
At eight o'clock called Stevens, and
saw him well upon. deck before vent
ured to enter the boatswain's berth.
l then softly opened the door. and
heard the honest fellow snoring like q
trooper in his bunk; but the parcel of
clothes lay ready. and l at once took
them. and knocked lightly ON Miss Rob-
ertson's door.
She Immediately appeared, and
handed her the clothes and also my
sou wes.er, which l had taken from my
cabin after quitting the deck.
what is to be the signal?" she
asked.
Three blows of my heel over your
cabin. There is spare cabin next door
for you to use. as your father ought
not to see you"
Il will coDtrive that he does not see
me-" she answered. He fell asleep
just now when l was talking to him. l
had better not leave him, for if he
should wake up and call for me. l